We'll see if year one in this era (KAT/Bridges} we have enough.
My buddy asks for my prediction? I replied.......Knicks win the first, Split the 1st two. Then go up 2-1.
Then in deep painful fashion lose in 6. Why? Its the way. Knick fans will rejoice then be miserable.
To be Clear, I want this team to beat Boston so bad. I want Clev and Indy to go 7 games and beat each other up.
I want Bridges to quiet this critics, and Kat to avg 20-12. I want them to close them out in 6 with decider in MSG.
Last game was close and these versions of a historic rivalry haven't met in the playoffs before. If you look at Boston's run last year, they had a pretty easy slate of opponents. Having the extra day off was really big for New York in terms of recovery time. Biggest questions I have are:
Will Brunson be able to draw fouls against Holiday?
How will the KAT and KP matchup play out? Extra interesting because they were in the same draft class.
Can Robinson play like he did in Game 5 or is he still struggling?
Can OG slow down Tatum?
Can Josh and Mikal disrupt the Celtics passing game?
Hopefully that extra day off gave Thiba enough time to find a chink in the armor to exploit.
Brown is still hobbling right? I would put Bridges on Tatum. Mikal is a quick jumper and can contest Tatum jumpers. Give him help on drives. OG can take out Brown all together with him being hurt.
Something to consider that I heard from listening to Knicks Film School pod this morning. - Tatum shot 33% on Pull up 3's but over 50% against us this year. Cade had almost the exact same similar story against us. We decided go under the screen to contest Cade and we gave him those pull up 3's, but he missed and then hesitated to take them. We have to give Boston something - I think they will roll the diced on Tatum shooting those pull ups. I think you have to put OG on Tatum. We just have no answer on Porzingis. If he keeps hitting logo 3's at a high rate against us, there's not much we can do.
Truthfully I have no idea how we beat this team 4 out of 7. The ONLY way is if all 5 starters start clicking on all cylinders again. We need to get back to early season where we were having 20+ from 4-5 guys a night.
DLeethal wrote:Truthfully I have no idea how we beat this team 4 out of 7. The ONLY way is if all 5 starters start clicking on all cylinders again. We need to get back to early season where we were having 20+ from 4-5 guys a night.
I'm surprised to see you say that when the Knicks have had the same strategy in the playoffs for the past 3 seasons- try to keep it close and then cross your fingers and hope Brunson can bail us out in the end.
gradyandrew wrote:DLeethal wrote:Truthfully I have no idea how we beat this team 4 out of 7. The ONLY way is if all 5 starters start clicking on all cylinders again. We need to get back to early season where we were having 20+ from 4-5 guys a night.
I'm surprised to see you say that when the Knicks have had the same strategy in the playoffs for the past 3 seasons- try to keep it close and then cross your fingers and hope Brunson can bail us out in the end.
We had teams built to play a "contain" style last few years through physical defense, paint dominance, relentless rebounding etc...
This cast is not going to beat up Boston like that and dominate the paint. This team needs to do what it was designed to do which is be an elite offensive team with two elite wing defenders who can get timely stops down the stretch.
DLeethal wrote:gradyandrew wrote:DLeethal wrote:Truthfully I have no idea how we beat this team 4 out of 7. The ONLY way is if all 5 starters start clicking on all cylinders again. We need to get back to early season where we were having 20+ from 4-5 guys a night.
I'm surprised to see you say that when the Knicks have had the same strategy in the playoffs for the past 3 seasons- try to keep it close and then cross your fingers and hope Brunson can bail us out in the end.
We had teams built to play a "contain" style last few years through physical defense, paint dominance, relentless rebounding etc...
This cast is not going to beat up Boston like that and dominate the paint. This team needs to do what it was designed to do which is be an elite offensive team with two elite wing defenders who can get timely stops down the stretch.
I agree.. the problem is Knicks have struggled vs. elite defensive teams. We simply overwhelm a lot of NBA teams. Detroit gave an admirable effort but everyone knew who was winning that series before it started.
I think the regular season is meaningful. I think the post season is more meaningful. We surely saw with Detroit there is no quit in this team and they play their best after a loss... a real Thibs era thing.
Here's the hope: If we saw something meaningful in the Detroit series it was an extra playoff gear for Mikal and KAT. Both showed a higher motor on defense and played more physical then they showed all year.
We MUST get more from the bench. If McBride isnt healthy maybe it's time for Delon. I dont know but the only game McBride shot over 30% was his 3-7 in the game 2 loss.
I think the starting 5 is going to be fine. KAT needs to be the best big on the floor. I think it really comes down to getting meaningful minutes from McBride/Mitch. If we get some big games from them we got a real punchers chance. Our starters alone arent beating Boston
DLeethal wrote:Truthfully I have no idea how we beat this team 4 out of 7. The ONLY way is if all 5 starters start clicking on all cylinders again. We need to get back to early season where we were having 20+ from 4-5 guys a night.
Stopping the wide open 3's would be a good start!
I am hoping for a good series from McBride. We need someone outside of the starting 5 to be reliable. But I’m hopeful as always. Go Knicks!
Nalod wrote:We'll see if year one in this era (KAT/Bridges} we have enough. My buddy asks for my prediction? I replied.......Knicks win the first, Split the 1st two. Then go up 2-1.
Then in deep painful fashion lose in 6. Why? Its the way. Knick fans will rejoice then be miserable.
To be Clear, I want this team to beat Boston so bad. I want Clev and Indy to go 7 games and beat each other up.
I want Bridges to quiet this critics, and Kat to avg 20-12. I want them to close them out in 6 with decider in MSG.
Did not expect KP to go Viral. His Virus is acting up. The man is fragile.
Knicks crawled back and the defense was good. Thibs fucking rules.
Nalod called Game one. I hope the rest of my prognostication is wrong and we take this series.
Not for nothing, but with a 2-0 lead on the Celtics, Indy a 2-0 lead on the Cavs, its entirely possible the Knicks go to the finals.
I"m getting so stoked at the idea of NY Knicks vs Minny in the finals.
KAT vs Randle
Bridges vs DDV
OG vs AE
Panos wrote:Not for nothing, but with a 2-0 lead on the Celtics, Indy a 2-0 lead on the Cavs, its entirely possible the Knicks go to the finals.
I"m getting so stoked at the idea of NY Knicks vs Minny in the finals.
KAT vs Randle
Bridges vs DDV
OG vs AE
To better protect my emotions and health I an in the moment.
I heard a stat today that like Indy finished the season after a rocky start with a 58 win pace.
So with injuries to Cav's this is not a shocker. Indy is good. Hali got his mojo after a bad start to the season. Its respect. The get to conf. finals its no fluke. They had 50 wins and finished strong.
Im loving we up 2-0!
Keep the game within reach and let the best closer in the game do his thing. Its not always pretty, its iso but he is the class of the NBA in the 4th quarter. Knicks are healthy! OG and Bridges are doing really well! Jaylen Brown, Holiday, and KP are not at their best. Teams that win chips don't sustain anymore.
Maybe its our time?
I am entertained!!!!!
Panos wrote:Not for nothing, but with a 2-0 lead on the Celtics, Indy a 2-0 lead on the Cavs, its entirely possible the Knicks go to the finals.
I"m getting so stoked at the idea of NY Knicks vs Minny in the finals.
KAT vs Randle
Bridges vs DDV
OG vs AE
I think its going to be OKC.
Knicks start off the season 0-4 against Celts... finish 4-4?
Panos wrote:Knicks start off the season 0-4 against Celts... finish 4-4?
I appreciate the enthusiasm but I can't go there. If I do and the team reverts to its mean, and/or Celtics step up to theirs I won't lament on "We blew it". I respect what the Celtics did to get those 20 pt leads and the awesome defense to stifle it by the knicks. These games are not easy to sit thru when the score is wide.
It is a remarkable Knick achievement these first two games! I can only imagine Thibs and his staff are dissecting video and and looking for more details to work with. its the little things that aggregate!
Im not sure MSG is a home advantage at the moment. Knicks doing quite well on the road these days.
Don't get me wrong, I love we up 2-0. Im reminding myself to just enjoy each game as it is, respect the opponent and perhaps see the game vs. the personalities or history. Celtics with a weaken KP has problems with our size. Luke Kornet is doing very well moving without the ball. Horford looks a bit cooked on offense.
Too bad we can't get Precious some minutes or Huk.
Knicks won in part because Josh Hart executed what he was given. He hit his jump shots. For most of the game Boston neutralized the offense from OG and Mikal.
I thought Thibs managed the subs very well last night and obviously pressed the right buttons.
Celtic fans must be going nuts. They need just look up and relish their glorious past with so many banners. Some with knick blood on them. More from a decade of owning the league at the expense of the Lakers and Jerry West!
Are we seeing the master plan from Leon/Rosas/Aller and Thibs? We are healthy. They are with the exception of Houser and KP. It happens!
If we go up 3-0 im prepared. I remember when Yankees were up 3-0 vs. Boston in 2004 and TV guy says "Nobody has ever come back from 0-3....." It turned to my wife and said "Does the longer that fact exist decreese the odds of this continuing or is it due that some team will defy it"? I did not predict it. I just questioned the logic of "if it has yet to happen, then it won't". To me it was due at some point in history. I hated that.
I want to believe. I will try.
Panos wrote:Not for nothing, but with a 2-0 lead on the Celtics, Indy a 2-0 lead on the Cavs, its entirely possible the Knicks go to the finals.
I"m getting so stoked at the idea of NY Knicks vs Minny in the finals.
KAT vs Randle
Bridges vs DDV
OG vs AE
Thought it would be Boston vs Denver. Now think the Denver and OKC series may be the finals. Don’t see anyone beating them but would love to see that and have seen the last two games this team is capable of anything.
In the East. Indiana has been taken too lightly. Some not realizing they got all their players back late in the season and were playing well.
Also, the playoffs are about who can overcome/win the physicality of the playoffs and which teams best players show up. But most of all, which team stays away from injuries. Cleveland has three key players out. One being Garland who I feel is key to making Halliburton work on D and keep some of the pressure off Mitchell. They are also missing their key defensive big. Will be interesting to see what happens when those guys get back.
For us, it will be a story of which of the two Celtic teams we see the most. Will it be the one that takes a 20 point lead and looks like last year champs or the one that gives up 20 point leads and look like chumps.
Hoping for the latter and that your prediction comes true!
GSW has problem with Steph out and I expect Minny to bounce back.
but.....Jimmy and Dray are crafty ones and Kerr is on the bench. Maybe Its Kuminga's time to stand up and do something?
wingstop in the playoffs vs. Cade, Tatum and Brown is just nuts. This is 100% the vision playing out and Thib's had straight up tricks up his sleave nobody saw coming. Im in his jock and didnt see anything coming there so a true mystery of the universe
fishmike wrote:wingstop in the playoffs vs. Cade, Tatum and Brown is just nuts. This is 100% the vision playing out and Thib's had straight up tricks up his sleave nobody saw coming. Im in his jock and didnt see anything coming there so a true mystery of the universe
Knicks were a tough read down the end of the season. We "hung on" to the 3rd seed while Indy surged.
We were without the NBA's best closer in Brunson adn then had to get him back in his groove. Also we integrated Mitch back into the rotation. All the while perhaps the secret sauce is "we take steps backwards employing new schematics". True for players and the team as a whole. In other words Thibs might have been preparing the team for the playoffs in ways fans can't see. We call for his removal as he not maxing the team, meanwhile the team is steps ahead of us. WE focus on results, they focus looking forward. Fans have our job to whine and second guess results, coaches have theirs to anticipate. The players execute to the best of their ability.
